Nitrogen is an essential element for plant growth and development and a key agricultural input-but in excess it can lead to a host of problems for human and ecological health. Across the globe, distribution of fertilizer nitrogen is very uneven, with some areas subject to nitrogen pollution and others suffering from reduced soil fertility, diminished crop production, and other consequences of inadequate supply. Agriculture and the Nitrogen Cycle provides a global assessment of the role of nitrogen fertilizer in the nitrogen cycle. The focus of the book is regional, emphasizing the need to maintain food and fiber production while minimizing environmental impacts where fertilizer is abundant, and the need to enhance fertilizer utilization in systems where nitrogen is limited. The book is derived from a workshop held by the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) in Kampala, Uganda, that brought together the world's leading scientists to examine and discuss the nitrogen cycle and related problems. It contains an overview chapter that summarizes the group's findings, four chapters on cross-cutting issues, and thirteen background chapters. The book offers a unique synthesis and provides an up-to-date, broad perspective on the issues of nitrogen fertilizer in food production and the interaction of nitrogen and the environment. "Decisions must be based on best available knowledgea. SCOPE has again produced an in depth review that will be welcomed by the international science community and decision makers in both the private and public sectors. The volume is of high relevance on all scales from the farm level to global food security." --Thomas Rosswall "It is a pleasure to read a solidly based scientific report written in a way that is obviously relevant to policy makers. This is a breath of fresh air." --Pedro Sanchez "This book is the most comprehensive global synthesis on the nitrogen cycle in agriculture conducted to date. It especially addresses the critical need to understand and hence improve the management of nitrogen fertilizer to maintain crop production while reducing external consequences of fertilizer use. Importantly, it evaluates ways to enhance crop production in areas of the world where nitrogen fertilizers are very expensive." --Dennis Keeney Arvin R. Mosier is a research chemist for the USDA Agricultural Research Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. J.Keith Syers is Vice-President for International Relations, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand. John R. Freney is a chief research scientist (retired), CSIRO, Division of Plant Industry, Canberra, Australia. Agriculture and the Nitrogen Cycle Assessing the Impacts of Fertilizer Use on Food Production and the Environment By Arvin R. Mosier, J. Keith Syers, John R. Freney ISLAND PRESS Copyright © 2004 Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-55963-710-7 Contents About Island Press, About SCOPE, THE SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON PROBLEMS OF THE ENVIRONMENT (SCOPE), Title Page, Copyright Page, Table of Figures, List of Tables, Foreword, Preface, Acknowledgments, PART I - Overview, 1 - Nitrogen Fertilizer: An Essential Component of Increased Food, Feed, and Fiber Production, PART II - Crosscutting Issues, 2 - Crop, Environmental, and Management Factors Affecting Nitrogen Use Efficiency, 3 - Emerging Technologies to Increase the Efficiency of Use of Fertilizer Nitrogen, 4 - Pathways of Nitrogen Loss and Their Impacts on Human Health and the Environment, 5 - Societal Responses for Addressing Nitrogen Fertilizer Needs: Balancing Food Production and Environmental Concerns, PART III - Low-input Systems, 6 - Improving Fertilizer Nitrogen Use Efficiency Through an Ecosystem-based Approach, 7 - Nitrogen Dynamics in Legume-based Pasture Systems, 8 - Management of Nitrogen Fertilizer in Maize-based Systems in Subhumid Areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, 9 - Integrated Nitrogen Input Systems in Denmark, PART IV - High-input Systems, 10 - Rice Systems in China with High Nitrogen Inputs, 11 - Using Advanced Technologies to Refine Nitrogen Management at the Farm Scale: A Case Study from the U.S. Midwest, 12 - Impact of Management Systems on Fertilizer Nitrogen Use Efficiency, PART V - Interactions and Scales, 13 - Fertilizer Nitrogen Use Efficiency as Influenced by Interactions with Other Nutrients, 14 - An Assessment of Fertilizer Nitrogen Recovery Efficiency by Grain Crops, 15 - Pathways and Losses of Fertilizer Nitrogen at Different Scales, 16 - Current Nitrogen Inputs to World Regions, PART VI - Challenges, 17 - Challenges and Opportunities for the Fertilizer Industry, 18 - The Role of Nitrogen in Sustaining Food Production and Estimating Future Nitrogen Fertilizer Needs to Meet Food Demand, 19 - Environmental Dimensions of Fertilizer Nitrogen: What Can Be Done to Increase Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Ensure Global Food Security?, Appendix, List of